Home > government and politics, U.S. Census Bureau > Census Bureau Releases Estimates of Undercount and Overcount in the 2010 Census

Census Bureau Releases Estimates of Undercount and Overcount in the 2010 Census

May 26, 2012

Census Bureau Releases Estimates of Undercount and Overcount in the 2010 Census
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau released today results from its post-enumeration survey, providing a measure of the accuracy of the 2010 Census. The results found that the 2010 Census had a net overcount of 0.01 percent, meaning about 36,000 people were overcounted in the census. This sample-based result, however, was not statistically different from zero.

The post-enumeration survey, called “Census Coverage Measurement,” measures the coverage of the nation’s household population (excluding the 8.0 million people in “group quarters,” such as nursing homes or college dorms). It surveys a sample of the 300.7 million people living in housing units and then matches the responses to the census, resulting in estimates of error.

The 2000 Census had an estimated net overcount of 0.49 percent and the 1990 Census had a net undercount of 1.61 percent.

“On this one evaluation — the net undercount of the total population — this was an outstanding census,” Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. “When this fact is added to prior positive evaluations, the American public can be proud of the 2010 Census their participation made possible.”

About these ads
Categories: government and politics, U.S. Census Bureau
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 487 other followers

%d bloggers like this: